Here come the Indians

Ask any Plainview cross country runner what makes the Indians successful year after year, and you’ll probably get one of two answers.

Strength in numbers and an unparalleled work ethic.

“Most of the team is young, but we train really hard,” said senior Kaitlin Moore, one of four returning runners from Plainview’s 12th girls state championship team. “We have a great group of girls. I don’t know if we’ll be much better but there definitely won’t be a drop off.”

Usually when a team loses a returning senior to injury and two more runners to graduation, it takes a step back. Not the Plainview girls, who haven’t lost a meet in a more than a year and are favorites in Class 3A for their fifth consecutive state championship.

The Indians will be without Class of 2010 graduates Tess Lackey and Amber Harper, who placed third and 16th respectively at last year’s state meet, as well as senior Spencer Jordan, who was 12th at state last year but is doubtful to run this fall due to a back injury. But, as Moore said, there won’t be a drop off with the lineup the Indians have.

“We’re 10 deep with three freshmen running varsity,” coach Jerry Naylor said. “I don’t think there’s any question that the summer stuff made a difference with the kids. We just have to keep working to see what happens.”

A successful AAU Junior Olympics combined with an extensive offseason training program has the Indians primed for runs in girls and boys cross country. Senior Andrew Leahey and sophomore Alex Davis are among the top five runners in Class 3A. Each starred for Plainview Track Club at the Junior Olympics in Norfolk, Va., this August, and have placed first in both preseason practice meets.

Davis was fifth at the state meet in 2009, while Leahey was second. Both talked about increasing their mileage in preparation for this season, which officially starts Saturday at the Marcus I Invitational in Denton.

“I’ve done so much more (mileage) this year,” said Davis, who placed in the top 15 at state last year along with returnees Moore (10th), Makayla Miller (seventh) and Rebekah Hickman (15th). “This year, a lot of girls from other schools have improved a lot. I learned a lot this summer about running and how I need to approach the season.”

Leahey, who has Oklahoma Baptist and Oklahoma State on the top of his list of college choices, is trying to finish his career with a state championship after placing second as a freshman and junior and fourth as a sophomore. Behind him is a Plainview boys team that was third in 3A last year with a squad of mostly freshmen and sophomores.

“He has the ability to step up in big meets,” Plainview coach Johni Bell said. “He’s pushing himself more this year. He’s gained a lot more maturity in the past six months.”

Leahey will be joined by junior Ryan Hicks (21st at state in 2009), senior Jordan Pierce and sophomores Colby Thompson, Isaac Growall and Robert Torres. Thompson was 19th at state last year and Bell said Torres has come on strong after a summer on the AAU circuit.

Bell said the key for the boys will be running closer together. The girls teams have displayed a pack mentality over the years at the state meet. In 2008, Plainview’s girls placed all seven runners in the top 10 while last season the Indians had four.

Bell sees “a great deal of unity” in this year’s group, which could help the boys capture their first cross country title since winning 2A in 1999. Last year’s champ in 3A, Jones, has graduated a majority of its runners.

“In the past we had too large of a gap (between runners),” Bell said. “We have to narrow the gap between those runners where they’re able to work off of each other and push each other.”

That push is more internal than at most schools. Droves of runners were on the track Tuesday, bearing the last few summer days together before the regular season starts.

“I feel like I’m going strong,” Leahey said. “I say I’m going for state every year in cross country and that’s what I’m trying to do this year.

“I’ve never seen our team so motivated.”

Erik K. Horne
221-6522